Russia attacked a Chinese merchant ship with a drone in Ukrainian waters
18 May 09:14
Russian forces attacked a Chinese-flagged merchant ship in Ukrainian territorial waters overnight using a Shahed-type attack drone. This was reported by Dmytro Pletenchuk, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Navy, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"
According to him, the incident occurred during another nighttime attack by Russia on Ukraine.
Statement from the Ukrainian Navy
Dmytro Pletenchuk reported that Russian forces attacked a Chinese merchant ship with a Shahed-type strike drone.
According to him, there were no casualties. Despite the attack, the ship did not stop and continued on its way.
The Navy spokesperson commented on the incident, noting that the Russians had struck a Chinese merchant ship.
“I wonder what motivated the Russians when they decided last night to use a ‘Shahed’ to target a Chinese merchant ship in our waters. There were no casualties, but this is something new. ‘A monstrous mistake has occurred,’ comrades?” wrote Pletenchuk.
He also noted that such an attack appears to be a new dangerous episode in Russia’s war against civilian shipping.
Are there any casualties?
According to preliminary information, there were no casualties as a result of the attack.
It is also reported that the vessel continued on its way after the incident.
Official data regarding possible damage to the vessel may be subject to change.
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Russia continues to strike southern Ukraine
The attack on the Chinese ship occurred amid massive Russian strikes on Ukrainian regions on the night of May 18. In particular, Odesa and Dnipro were targeted.
In Odesa, residential buildings, a school, and a kindergarten were damaged by drone strikes, and a child and an adult man were among the casualties. In Dnipro, Russian forces used missiles, which also resulted in injuries.
Why civilian shipping remains at risk
This is not the first time Russia has posed risks to merchant ships in the Black Sea.
Earlier, Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk had already commented on attacks on civilian vessels, emphasizing that a ship at sea is a moving target, so hitting it cannot always be explained as an accident.
Such incidents can affect the safety of maritime routes, ship insurance, export logistics, and the operations of Ukrainian ports.
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